USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
National Referee School
New Referee / Rookie – Level I
Certification Tutorial
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
What Is a Referee?
 Integral part of a water polo game
 Controls the action when control is needed
 Allows the action to proceed when control is not needed
 Makes sure that both the letter as well as the intent and spirit of the
rules are followed
 Is an impartial observer and mediator
 Does not care which team wins
 But does care that the players play within the limits of the rules
 This combination separates the referee from all the participants and most
observers
 Applies the rules to ensure the proper outcome to a game
 Were superior plays allowed to be superior?
 Were superior players allowed to be superior?
 Did the team playing better actually win?
 Ensures the safety of the players during the game!
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Consistency
 The more consistent the referee the better the referee
 There are many levels of consistency:
 Season to season
As referees learn, they will improve
 An improving referee will NOT be the same season to season
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 Game to game within a tournament
As referees learn, they will improve
 An improving referee should try to learn at all times
 After learning, an improving referee may NOT be the same throughout the games of a tournament
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 End to end within a game
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For a given referee:
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What is a foul called against one team is a foul called against the other team
What is a foul in the first minute of the game is a foul in the last minute of the game
For a pair of referees:
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They will be identical to the extent they have learned the same amount
They will not be identical to the extent they have not
 The goal for an individual referee is to improve and not alter his/her game merely because
his/her partner is not making identical calls
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Arriving On Site
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Are you on time? (Be early! Game time is late!)
How do you look?
Are you ready to whistle?
Introduce yourself to the host and to both teams
Introduce yourself to the other referees
Check out the facilities, including markings
Talk with your partner
 Before the game
 During the game
 After the game
 Be considerate
 Be on time
 Be ready and prepared
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Working with the Table
 When you arrive, introduce yourself and find out:
 What are the various signals and sounds?
 How, and by whom, are players going to be waved in?
 How will the table notify the referees if a player has a third foul?
 Score sheet management
 Make sure the correct information is being entered during the game and that complete
rosters are entered before the game starts
 At the end of the game:
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Reconcile the Progress of the Game with the individual tallies
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Blank spaces in the Progress of the Game equals fouls + time outs
If there are more blank spaces than there should be it must be due to:
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YC and RC
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Errors
Filled spaces equals total number of goals scored
Tally scores in the goal area for each team
Do more detailed analysis as necessary
Sign the score sheet when you are confident it is correct
 Always help and support the desk!!
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Starting the Game
 Each team must have seven players in the water:
 One goalkeeper
 Six field players
 Line up
 On the goal line
 On the wall, or
 On the 2 meter line
 Decision is based on the limitations of the facility
 Both referees at mid-field opposite each other or at 5 meter line if
conditions allow
 Referee on far side is responsible for lining up both teams
 If referees start from 5 meter each is responsible for the team at their
end
 Referee on table side starts the game
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
At the Start
 Referee not dropping ball (opposite table on center-pull start)
 Holds right arm horizontal until both teams are ready
 Raises right arm to signify that both teams are ready
 As the start of the sprint, watches for an early (false) start
 As the sprint happens, looks right for anyone helping a teammate
 Referee dropping the ball (table side on center-pull start)
 Signifies readiness by holding right arm in vertical position
 Watches partner
 Once partner raises right arm:
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Immediately blow the whistle and drops right arm
 As the sprint happens, looks right for anyone helping a teammate
 When sprinters are several strokes from the center, drop ball
 Continue to watch for pulling on lane line, wall, etc…
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Rule Regarding Caps
 Teams are to wear caps of contrasting colors
 Both teams MAY wear colored caps as long as the caps are sufficiently different
that they can be easily differentiated
 Patterned caps are permitted
 Goaltenders wear red caps
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One goaltender wears #1
The other wears #13
 Colors must be clearly visibly different when wet and when dry
 If the caps are insufficiently different, the referees may require them to
wear white and/or blue caps
 Teams
 The first team listed
 Normally wears white caps
 Starts to the left of the table
 The second team listed
 Normally wears dark caps
 Starts to the right of the table
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Pool Layout
Reentry
Area
Reentry
Area
Men: 30m x 20m
Women: 25m x 20m
G
2
5
H
5
2
G
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Referee Positioning
 Normal front court positioning
 Attack referee
 Default position is right foot on the 2m line
 Move up to see left-handers
 Move down as 30s clock is running down
 Principal responsibility for:
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5m line
2m line
Goal line
 Backcourt referee
 Default position is even with the last attacker
 Principal responsibility for:
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Perimeter fouls, shots, and drives
Help with all shots and end-line violations
Field players using two hands to defend shots
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Referee Positioning
R
O
O
O
G
X
X
O X
X
O
G
X
X
O
R
Action: Front Court
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Referee Positioning
R
O
O
X
X
O
G
X
O
X
G
O
X
O
R
Extra: Front Court
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Referee Positioning
R
O
O
X
X
G
X
O
O
X
X
G
O
O
X
R
Counter Attack
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Positioning and Mechanics
 Body position
 Stand quartered to the pool
 At all times, 13 players should be able to see your chest
 General pattern of hand signals
 Arm down or horizontal: what is supposed to happen is not ready to happen
 Raising the arm to vertical: what is supposed to happen may happen
 Dropping the arm from vertical: what is supposed to happen must happen
immediately and without delay
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Hand Signals
 Be clear
 Flat hand pointing in direction of the attack
 Arm parallel to the water
 Point (with index finger of other hand) only to reposition the ball
 Numbering
 Signal numbers with two hands
 Display them so that the players can read them left to right
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3 is signaled with right hand
7 is signaled with five on right hand and two on left
13 is signaled with ten on right hand and three on left
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Whistles and Signals
 Whistles
 Speak and communicate with your whistle
 Only whistle when you have to whistle
 Standardize your whistles
 Minor foul [single blast]
 Contra foul or turnover [double blast]
 Exclusion foul
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Ideal is short – short (to get attention of excluded player) then long (as you motion
player out of playing area)]
If necessary, use more whistle blasts to get the attention of excluded player
Penalty foul [short - long] a third sound for exclusion fouls (be creative, but not
too!)
Goal throw [single blast] because it is really a minor foul for an end-line violation
Corner throw [short short]
Getting attention [many options for whistles but please be gentle]
 Communicating Verbally
 Know when to drop your whistle, it’s really ok!
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Whistles and Signals
 Combination of signals
 Goals
 Hand signal is right hand pointing (index finger) back across your body to the
center of the pool where the teams will line up
 Then turn to the table and signal the number of the player who scored
 Personal fouls
 Hand signal is hand on the side of the defending team pointing (index finger) at
excluded player, then after the double whistle blast to get attention, a long single
whistle blast as the excluded player is motioned out of the playing area
 Then signal the water with the number of the excluded player
 After the excluded player begins to leave the field of play, twist so that the signal is
made towards the table as well
 Communicating Verbally
 Sometimes the easiest thing is to drop your whistle and explain what needs to
happen
 This is not only ok, it is often the best solution
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Categories of Fouls
 There are three general categories of fouls
 1 - Minor fouls
 2 - Major fouls (including striking and over aggressive fouls)
 3 - Fouls of violence (brutality & fighting) and/or misconduct
 General considerations for all fouls
 Call fouls as they occur
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Start at the very beginning of the game
The second period (or the second minute of the first period) is too
late to start
 Catch the first foul and not just the retaliation
 When two players become focused on each other and not the
game, be prepared to defuse the situation
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Verbal warning after a goal is scored or at stoppage of play works!
Double exclusion during play if necessary for behavior also works!
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Category 1 - Minor Fouls of Play
Marking
Not a foul
Impeding
Minor foul
Pushing or pushing off
Minor or exclusion foul
 Marking (touching) an opponent is not a foul if the only thing
being done is to be aware of position while looking elsewhere
 Impeding is a foul when it prevents the attacker from being
able to play the ball, offense must show intent to continue play.
This is when a “grab” becomes a “hold”.
 Pushing or pushing off
 Is a minor foul when it is the equivalent of impeding
 It becomes a major (exclusion) foul when it becomes the equivalent of
holding, pulling back, kicking, or striking.
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Category 2 - Major Fouls
Pushing or pushing off
Minor or Major foul
Handchecking
Major foul
Holding
Major foul
Sinking
Major foul
Pulling Back
Major foul
 Hand checking is the equivalent of holding
 Holding, sinking, and pulling back are the normal actions
resulting in a major foul (exclusion foul) It is ok to call these
fouls away from the ball!
 In all cases, the burden of proof is on the defense to prove they
are not fouling
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Exclusion Foul Considerations:
 Many goals are scored immediately after calling an exclusion
 This is the time to be very aware of what is happening, do not
turn away from the pool!
 Watch what is happening even as you are changing your
position
 Watch for:
 Interference with the free throw
 Interference by the excluded player
 Again, do not turn away
 Signal the table when appropriate:
 After the signal has been made towards the water
 Without looking away from the water
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Interference by an Excluded
Player
 What is interference by an excluded player?
 Excluded player must swim to the re-entry area and:
 Must remain in the water
 If the player leaves the water it is considered misconduct
 The player is excluded from the remainder of the game with substitution
 May not interfere with game
 Player must go by shortest route unless that route will interfere with the
progress of the game
 Swimming through the 6 on 5 offense is sometimes interfering with the play
 It is the obligation of the excluded player to NOT interfere
 The excluded player may not swim through a 6 on 5 merely because it is
convenient to do so
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Kicking or Striking Fouls/ Borderline Category
2 and 3
 This is the dividing line between a personal foul of play (Cat 2) and a
personal foul of violence (Cat 3)
 To kick or strike is not defined by making contact
 No contact has to be made
 All that is required is the motion of kicking or striking
 Can be done with the head (a head butt)
 Can (and should if it effects player safety) be called:
 Outside the flow of the game
 Behind the line of attack
 Can result in a single exclusion or a penalty foul (if it occurs in the
penalty area and prevents a probable goal)
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Category 3 - Fouls of Violence
Violence
Game exclusion (w/ sub)
Brutality
Game exclusion (w/sub after
4 minutes) & 1 game suspension
 Violent play can include kicking or striking actions but what
makes it violence is either
 It is disproportionately aggressive
 It is completely outside the flow of the game
 Violence can be done with hands, feet, elbows, knees, or head
 All these fouls can (and usually should) be called outside the
flow of the game or outside of an advantage situation
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Category 3 - Fouls of Violence
/Brutality and Fighting
 Does not have to be intentional
 Puts a player at risk of injury
 Very important that this be called:
 “Advantage” is only a weak excuse
 “Maintaining flow” is also a weak excuse
 Results in at least a game exclusion with substitution
 If foul was committed in the penalty area and also
prevented a probable goal, a penalty throw is also awarded
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Category 3 - Fouls of Violence (Brutality and
Fighting)
 Brutality is fighting, kicking or striking, or attempting to
kick or strike, with malicious intent
 There is obvious intent to injure an opposing player
 ALL brutalities MUST be called – no excuses
 Penalty throw awarded
 Game exclusion with substitution after 4 minutes
 Minimum suspension for one additional game
 If foul was committed in the penalty area and also
prevented a probable goal, a penalty throw is also awarded
 Reporting of brutalities:
 Must be reported to USA Water Polo National Office via
incident report at www.usawpra.org
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Avoiding Category 3 Fouls
 Watch for these kinds of situations and call over
aggressive fouls early!
 Watch for any pairs of caps that are close:
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Any sudden change in position is usually due to a pull back or
grab. If allowed to continue will escalate.
Players looking at each other rather than paying attention to
the game often leads to kicking/striking/violence
 Be aware of retaliation for aggressive defensive pressure.
Again, call these fouls early to avoid retaliation and be in
position to see these fouls.
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Category 3 Fouls:
Additional Interpretations
 If a player commits a foul of misconduct during the
time between periods, after a goal, during time out, or
any other interval time, that player is excluded for the
remainder of the game and play is restarted with the
teams at full strength
 If a player of either team commits a foul of misconduct
during play or the time between the calling of a foul
and the taking of the free throw, the player is excluded
for the remainder of the game, the ball is awarded to
the offended team, and play is restarted with a
substitute in the re-entry area
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Introduction to “Advantage”
 The “advantage rule” is the single most difficult thing to understand in
all of water polo
 It is even more difficult to apply
 It is still more difficult to know how to do what with the whistle to
maximize it
 Please remember: Player safety is first and foremost!
 The rule: (7.3)
 The referees shall refrain from declaring a foul if, in their opinion, such
declaration would be an advantage to the offending player’s team.
 The referees shall not declare an ordinary foul when there is still a
possibility to play the ball.
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Who Can Have Advantage?
 The first sentence of the rule is team-neutral.
 The second sentence of the rule is clearly all about the
attacking player and team.
 What can the attacking player or team do?
 Possess the ball
 Move with the ball
 Pass the ball
 Shoot the ball
 Therefore, it is a foul (and takes away advantage) to
prevent an attacking player from being able to do any
one of these things
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Initiation of Contact
 Athlete contact is a fundamental concept in this
game….
 It is a game of physical contact
 Contact happens and is part of the game
 However, this game is not of one of collision and
violence.
 Contact, not collision, is part of the game
 Who initiates the contact?
 It is to know this before the Advantage Rule can be
applied correctly
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Why Initiate Contact?
 Offense
 To establish or improve position
 To move the defender out of the way
 Defense
 To establish or improve position
 To move the attacker out of the way
 Two fundamental concepts to keep in mind:
 The player initiating the contact with another player
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May benefit from the contact
May not be the recipient of a foul
 The player receiving the contact with another player
 May not benefit from the contact
 May not be charged with committing a foul
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
What Does It All Mean?
 A player or team should be allowed contact with an
opponent but should not be able to benefit from
committing a foul against that opponent.
 Most, but certainly not all, contact is initiated by the
defense
 Therefore most fouls are likely to be called against the defense
 Thus any foul called, or foul not called, which results in a
lessening of likelihood of offense scoring should result from a
violation of the advantage rule
 Although contrary fouls, (those that result in the attacking
team committing positioning fouls) is similarly valid, its
incidence is much lower, but does occur.
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
What Does It Mean You Should
Do?
 Physical contact between attacking players and defenders
is permitted.
 Intervene ONLY (unless player safety is at risk) to restore
 Possessional advantage
 Positional advantage
 Probable goal advantage
 For now, try to be aware of what a team is trying to do with
the ball and
 Do not call a foul if you do not have to
 When you call a foul, try not to
 Move the ball away from the goal being attacked
 Turn a shooter into a passer
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Other Situations
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Free throws
Timeouts
Shootouts
Use of cards
Special fouls
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Free Throws
 They happen so often that it is important that the
mechanics and application are consistent
 Must be taken without undue delay, but does not have to
be immediate
 Guidelines:
 Should be given opportunity for a good look for open pass
 3 seconds is about right – at the discretion of the referee
 Legally putting the ball in play includes:
 Dropping the ball
 Tossing the ball up
 Passing the ball
 Should be visible separation between hand, ball, and water
 Just retake the pass if it gets confusing !
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Where To Put The Ball In Play
 At the line of the foul
 Interpretation: anywhere at or behind the line of the foul if
the ball has moved forward of the line of the foul
 At the location of the ball
 if the ball has moved behind the line of the foul
 if the ball has moved parallel to the line of the foul
 At the two meter line for foul on or inside the two meter
line
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Shooting Free Throws
 If a foul is called for a player with the ball outside the 5
meter line, that player taking the free throw may shoot
the ball directly at the goal
 The shot must be immediate and without delay
 A player may “recover” and regain bearing, especially after a
hard foul
 Player may not shoot if the ball is coming from outside
the field of play
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Such as after a stoppage to replace a cap
 May shoot any free throw awarded to a player without the
ball outside the 5 meter line if the ball is coming from
inside the foul
 Use the head to define the position of the player
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Defending Free Throws
 No obligation to move away
 Must demonstrate that he/she is not interfering with
the free throw
 Guidelines:
 Perimeter:
 Be about arm’s length away
 May put up “back” arm
 Watch for two hands up
 It is an exclusion if the defender has two hands up
attempting to prevent a shot
 Perimeter/Set:
 Must not interfere with ability to pass in any direction
 Be aware of two hands up on 2m shot opportunity
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Corner and Goal Throws
 A corner throw is awarded when
 A shot goes out-of-bounds behind the goal line and it was last
touched by the goalkeeper of the defending team OR
 A pass goes out-of-bounds behind the goal line last touched by
any defensive player
 A goal throw is awarded when
 A shot goes out-of-bounds behind the goal line and was last
touched by any player other than the goalie OR
 Any time an illegal shot is taken
 Any player may take the goal throw anywhere inside 2 meter
area
 Please enforce this rule
 No cheating - this can provide a huge benefit to a goaltender with
a poor arm
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Neutral Throws
 Neutral throw
 No longer applies to double exclusions during play, unless
there is no possession at the time of the fouls.
 Still applies to overhead obstruction, unfair advantage on
sprint, unclear possession issues, etc.
 How is it taken?
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Referee shall select the players to participate
Goalkeeper shall not be selected
The ball is thrown into the air so that both players have an equal
opportunity at the ball
One of the two selected players must touch the ball first before
the ball can be played by another player
 Remember that at least two players must intentionally play
the ball before it can be shot
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Penalty Throws
 First position the field players:
 The defense has the right of “inside” position (closest to the shooter)
 No player (except the goalkeeper) may be inside the 5 meter area.
 The shooter may be anywhere on the 5 meter line
 No player may be within 2 meters of the shooter.
 Next position the goalkeeper:
 Wall mounted goal
 The goalkeeper must have his/her hips on the goal line.
 Floating goal
 No part of the goalkeeper, above the surface of the water, may be in front of the goal
line.
 Finally, simultaneously blow whistle and drop hand from the vertical
position
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Calling for Timeouts
 Each team is allowed to call three time outs per game, one
of which may only be called in extra time
 May only be called by head coach of team in possession of
ball.
 May be called after a goal by the team about to gain
possession without putting the ball in play.
 Violations:
 If used up all timeouts – free throw to other team at or
behind half
 If called by team not in possession of the ball – penalty
throw to offended team
 If called when no team in possession of the ball – penalty
to offended team.
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Administering Timeouts
 Both teams must separate into their respective defensive halves of the
pool
 After 45 seconds, horn (or whistle) tells the teams to move into position
 At full time (60 seconds), horn (or whistle) indicates the ball should be
put into play by team calling timeout at or behind the half distance line
 If team calling timeout is late coming out (in order of preference):
 Can throw the ball in on time and start the possession clock
 Can award a yellow card to the head coach
 Can awarded the ball to other team for delay of game
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Penalty Shootout
 Referees toss coin in presence of captains to determine
who shoots first
 There will be no change of ends and each team will
shoot at their defending goal
 Second ref acts as goal judge
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Penalty Shootout
 The coach of each team will name five shooters and a
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goalkeeper for the penalty shootout
The five shooters must be listed in the order that they
will shoot
The sequence of shooters may not be changed
Players who are not eligible (excluded from the
remainder of the game) may not participate
All players, with the exception of the players involved
in the shootout and the defending goalkeepers, are
required to be seated on their respective team benches
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Penalty Shootout
 During the shootout, a team may use any eligible
player as a goalkeeper, however:
 If the goalkeeper is excluded during the taking of a
penalty throw, only one of the five eligible shooters may
take his/her place
 For that particular shot, the substitute does not have the
privileges of a goalkeeper
 Subsequently, that team may substitute another player
as goalkeeper with the normal privileges of a goalkeeper
 The same player need not serve as goalkeeper for every
throw
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Penalty Shootout
 The teams will alternate taking five penalty throws each
 The first team will shoot and then the other team
 Teams will alternate shooting until all five shooters have
taken a throw
 If, after taking five shots each, the teams are still tied,
then alternating shots will be taken until a result is
achieved
 The same five players will shoot in the same order in extra
rounds
 In shallow-deep pools, all shots will be taken at the deep
end
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Yellow Cards
 If a coach or team official is disruptive, the head coach should
be warned
 The head coach is responsible for the behavior of the entire team
 If anyone continues to be disruptive, a yellow card is issued to
the head coach as a visible warning
 After yellow card is awarded, the head coach retains all normal
privileges:
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May stand and shout instructions to the team
May advance to the 5-meter line when their team is on offense
 Only one yellow card may be awarded to any one team in any one
game
 Next card must be a red card
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Yellow Cards
 Only the head coach can receive a yellow card
 Assistant coaches, athletes, and team officials are not
issued yellow cards, they automatically receive a red card
 Ideally, and only when appropriate, this only occurs after a
warning has been given to the head coach
 You may issue a yellow card to the head coach for any
disruptive or inappropriate bench behavior if you are not
sure of offender(s)
 If action was severe enough
 Referee does not have to issue a yellow card
 May issue a red card immediately
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Red Cards
 Person must leave the playing area, but may go to
spectator stands
 May not have any verbal, visual, or electronic
communication with the team
 If there is a continued violation, they should be removed
from the facility
 Person receiving a red card may not participate in that
team’s next game
 Not allowed on the pool deck during warm-ups or have
anything to do with the next competition for that team
 All Red Cards must be reported via the incident reporting
form at www.usawpra.org
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Special Fouls
 Situations with women’s suits
 Ball under
 Inside 2-meters
 Penalty fouls
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Suit Grabbing
 Suit grabbing
 A special case of holding that is particularly relevant
for women’s water polo
 A very common tactic
 Can immobilize all but strongest players
 Makes her completely immobile
 Shutting down attack
 Simplest and most expedient strategy?
 Apply rule as written
 This is not done because it is considered an
oversimplification
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Suit Grab by Defender
 Treat this as any other type of hold by defender
 If too severe, may actually be a form of violence
 Suit partially pulled off
 Trapping arm in strap
 Exposing a breast
 Calling this severe a foul can render this tactic ineffective
 Be careful to see the whole situation: trickery by the attacking player
can result in wrong player (the defender) charged when in reality the
attacker pulled part of her own suit off
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Suit Grab by Attacker
 Consequences of calling this foul in this situation results in a greater
punishment than when exact same act is performed by defender
 Personal foul plus contra attack
 “Who is holding whom?”
 Most common outcome is to call this as a contra foul
 This is the same thing one would do if the center were holding the suit of
the defender in a men’s game
 But if severe enough, approaching what would be considered defensive
violence, can call an offensive exclusion foul
 However, if suit hold is irrelevant to the play but it is merely a simple
act of violence
 Analogous to grabbing a hat string and shaking a player by the head
 Advantage Rule is irrelevant in context of goal scoring
 Proper decision is offensive misconduct
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Ball Under
 A foul to be avoided if possible
 Player with the ball has to be:
 In control of the ball
 Making contact with the ball
 The ball must go completely under water
 And it must be under water for more than a brief moment
 Defensive player needs to:
 Make physical contact with the player holding the ball on their shoulder, arm,
forearm, wrist, or hand on the side holding the ball
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Inside 2-Meters ?
 The Rule: “Offensive players must be outside the 2 meter area or must be
behind the line of the ball”
 Position of any player is determined by the position of the head (in this case
relative to the ball)
 If the player is in control of or holding the ball, the head may be in front of the
ball and not be in violation
 Offense:
 May not receive ball inside 2 meters
 May not go inside and stay there to gain position
 May not affect play by being inside 2 meters without the ball
 Defense:
 Pushing or holding an attacking player inside 2 meters is a foul
 Most likely is an exclusion (for holding or pulling back)
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Penalty Fouls
 Some guidelines
 A player has a good opportunity for a shot and defender prevents
the shot by a foul (any foul) inside the 5-meter area
 Counterattack entering the 5-meter area
 Pulling down of shooting arm of player inside the 5-meter area and
inside water from his/her defender
 The result: The attacking team gets penalty throw
 Empty net fouls
 When there is no one defending the goal, then the probability that a
ball tossed into the goal will score is very high
 Therefore, many fouls committed inside the 5-meter area when the
goal is empty may be penalty fouls because the foul took away a
probable goal
 Be careful: if there was no probable goal, then there is no penalty
foul
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Major Not So New Rules
 One line at 5m
 Fouls for use of two hands out of the water on defense
 Exclusion foul to use two hands to try to prevent a shot outside 5m
 Penalty foul to use two hands to try to prevent a shot or a pass inside 5m
 Time factors modified
 Eight minute periods of play
 Two minutes after 1st and 3rd period, five minutes after 2nd period
 30 seconds possession clock
 Double exclusion protocol modified
 Team last in possession of the ball retains possession Illegal Entry penalty re-
defined
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Major Not So New Rules (cont.)
 Goal throw vs corner throw
 When the ball goes out of bounds, the ball turns over to the team last on
defense and a:

Goal throw awarded:



When the ball went over the end line last touched by anyone other than the
goaltender
When the ball was intentionally tossed out of bounds by the team playing defense
Free throw awarded:

When the ball went over the sideline
 A corner throw is awarded only when the ball goes over the end-line last
touched by the goaltender
 Brutality
 Penalty throw
 Substitution after 4 minutes
 Penalty throw awarded in final minute
 Team may elect to retain possession with a new 30s clock rather than take
the penalty throw
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Major Points of Emphasis
 Promote the action by remembering that most contact is
initiated by the defense. Thus, most fouls will be called
against the defense.
 Try to minimize calling offensive fouls
 This is particularly so away from the ball
 It is most often correct to delay a second to see if the
offensive foul really will affect the game. If not, do not call
the offensive foul
 Please also note that this says try to minimize, not
eliminate. If the offense commits a gross foul, it must be
called immediately
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Major Points of Emphasis
 Punish lateral movement of the defender that prevents the offensive
action of the attacker
 If a swimming offensive player is hand-checked or impeded by a vertical
(hips down) defender, an exclusion foul should be called
 Even if a drop is coming, a referee may call a minor, or an exclusion,
foul against the center defender
 If the center has an advantage and wants to try to shoot, wait momentarily
and then call an exclusion foul if the defender commits a foul to prevent a
chance of scoring
 If the set has no advantage and is just trying to pass to an open teammate,
then it is perfectly correct to call a quick minor foul so that the team
maintains possession
 However, if a bad pass is made which is closer to the defense, then the
referee may refrain from calling a foul
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Major Points of Emphasis
 Maintain consistency at the center forward position
 Allow balanced competing for position between the center
and the defender
 This does not mean that either player can commit an
exclusion foul to gain a better position or to keep an existing
position
 Excessive force, overly physical play, arms out of water and
around an opponent, and suit grabbing to change position
must be called as an exclusion or an offensive foul
 Allow the former center and defender to untangle after a
possession change
 Do not call a foul too quickly
 However, once they have untangled, a foul can be called on
either player for a push off or a pull back
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Major Points of Emphasis
 It is perfectly correct for the referee to call an offensive
exclusion foul if the offensive player commits a serious
enough foul:




Holding, sinking, or pulling back bordering on violence
Exit from center to begin a counter attack (the gross and go)
Suit grabs
Any other fouls more severe than an ordinary contra foul
 Referees must carefully watch defenders during a 6 on 5 to
be sure they are not sinking offensive players (especially
those on the post)
 This can be an exclusion (or even a penalty) foul
 Be alert for defenders using two hands to prevent passes or
shots
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Major Points of Emphasis
 It is important for the referees to keep control of the
game
 Players who commit violent (overly aggressive) fouls that
are not part of the game should be charged with
misconduct and removed from the remainder of the
game rather than just excluded for 20 seconds
 Also players who show disrespect toward the referee
should be similarly removed for the rest of the game
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Professionalism
 Appearance
 If you want to be treated like a professional referee, you must look like a
professional referee
 Respect
 If you want respect, respect those around you
 Practice your craft
 Study the rule books and interpretations
 Think about the game
 At home
 In the car
 At scrimmages
 In and around games
 Ponder these questions:
 How much time did the coach put into the game?
 How much time did the players put into the game?
 Compared that with how much time did YOU put into the game?
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Listening, Hearing, and Learning
 Referees
 If they are not at your level, they may challenge you to explain your
calls
 If they are at or above your level, they may give you a different
perspective that you may or may not decide to accept
 You can and should learn from all of this
 Coaches and Players
 Try to know what they want to do
 Remember to understand their perspective
 Learn by:
 Watching the game
 Reading about the game
 Talking about the game
 Thinking about the game
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Legal and Liability Issues
 Make sure you have adequate insurance
 Professional liability insurance
 Available from:


USA Water Polo
NASO
 Make sure that you call all safety-related fouls
 Make sure you are doing what you are supposed to do
 Make sure that you report ALL incidents, (red cards,
brutality, misconduct, injury, etc.) via the report from
at www.usawpra.org. For a complete list of reportable
incidents please see www.usawpra.org.
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
What Now?
 Know the rules!!
 Take the “Rookie – Level I” Rules Test at
www.usawpra.org.
 Arrange for your “On-Deck” practical evaluation with
your Zone Head Referee to complete your “Rookie”
Certification as a Referee with USA Water Polo.
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
On-Deck Practical Will Include:
 Mechanics
 Positioning and working with your partner
 How to best see the players and their positions in order to tell:
 Who got to the position first?
 Did the defender hold the attacking player?
 Did the attacking player swim over the defender?
 Calling minor fouls
 Be sure that it is related to play
 If it is there, call the foul without delay
Delay takes time off the possession clock
 If the attacking team has earned it, give it to them
 The onus is on the defense to show they are not committing fouls
 Identifying and correctly handling picks
 Is it related to the play?
 Is it or is it not impeding? Holding?

USA Water Polo Referee’s Association
Thank you
 GOOD LUCK
 And
 PLEASE!
 HAVE!
 FUN!
USA Water Polo Referee’s Association